GYE Guiding Stories & Reflection

In our  Global Youth Exchange journey, we read the book Planting SEADS: Southeast Asian Diaspora Stories, edited by Chanida Phaengdara Potter, M. K. Nguyen, Narate Keys, and Pheng Thao. Through journal reflection and reading this text, we were able to learn more about Southeast Asian diaspora communities and their stories and reflect on our own identities and stories.

Reflections from Planting Seads

We journaled and reflected on the following questions:

  • What are some similarities and differences you notice in the histories and experiences of Southeast Asian nations and ethnic groups?
  • If you could meet one of the storytellers, whom would you want to meet and why?
  • In reading these real-life stories about trauma and healing, what have you learned? How do you find healing on your own and/or with your family?

“After reading the stories and learning more in depth about people and their journeys within their culture, identity, and homeland, it made me more open to learning about others and their stories by connecting perspectives and sharing our own personal narratives.” —Mackenzie

“Reading through Planting SEADS allowed a lot of time for us students to explore the individual stories, personalities, and experiences of various survivors in the Southeast Asian diaspora, and, through reading and thinking about them, we could better understand art in the form of the human life, in its pain, in its grief, and in its continuation. It deepened the culture of the location we were exploring, and I found it powerful for us to be able to experience it.” —Maxwell

“After getting the chance to read and learn the stories in the SEADS book, it has helped me by giving me a better glimpse of traumas people have faced. I was able to read some of the primary-sources stories that they’ve faced, and it really took a toll on how I viewed survivors in the Southeast Asian diaspora. These survivors didn’t just explain their stories but they went in depth with how they were left with pains, scars, wounds, etc. This book has taught me that all traumas come with all sorts of different and unique stories. It got them to where they are now.” —Christina

“The stories in the SEAD book were a huge contribution to my better understanding of SEA experiences of tragedies, wars, and colonization. After reading various stories, I was reminded that not all Southeast Asians went through similar experiences.” —Nouchi

“Through reading the SEADS book, I was able to understand the context of the people and their feelings and experiences. The stories in the book represented real people and not just statistics. The story also brought light to the importance of resilience. And how each story is significant and unique in its own right, but the stories are still quilted together through culture.” —Asharia

“Reading this book I learned that sharing stories about a tragic past is an important way that leads to healing. As I read through the book I was faced with knowledge that was kept hidden and was not told.” —Touger

Journals and Sketching

Journal Entry and Reflection by Molly

“The questions that were given alongside the reading were: Which storyteller would we want to meet, what are the differences between the groups and experiences, what are the differences between us and a peer, and how can we better communicate those differences? I chose to present this journal entry because I really liked the questions and what they led me to think about. I got to reflect on how these things relate to my own life and culture, and think about the impact of religion in every culture. It is also one of the few prompts that I sketched for instead of just writing. Along with that, I also wrote some things in Hmong so it felt more personal.” 

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Christina

“One page that I’d like to share is actually the very first page I wrote on. Not only did I remember it bringing me so much joy, but I was determined (still am!) to get the chance to learn more in depth about Southeast Asian history. It was the best thing ever, and it has changed my perspective! And, with all that, it brings me back to these questions again: What is Mia? Who is Mia? To be so awesome and kind to give kids these amazing opportunities!”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Asharia

“Our first art project was based on powerful words that connect with our past, present, and future. We were supposed to make a mural based on one of the words on the list, and the word my group chose was ‘power.’ When coming up with concepts, I drew a baby with a spoon in its mouth, based on the expression, ‘Born with a silver spoon in his mouth.’ This kind of wealth, which is often associated with power, is often kept in the family, meaning this person never had to work for the payoff. 

“The bib reads ‘spoiled as milk,’ showing how power can affect the minds of those who have it, and how easily someone can take advantage of it, no matter what age.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Nouchi

“This journal entry is a rough draft of one of my projects with another GYE youth participant. The focus of this project was to tell a story about an issue that we wanted to address. Me and my partner focused on the stereotypes of women in our culture. This is one of my favorite journal entries because I loved how I could connect with my culture and also address common issues that were still occurring. The process of making this draft was self-reflecting. There were many ways I could relate to it, from suffering gender stereotypes to rebelling against those stereotypes to become who I truly am.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Maxwell 

“I chose this journal entry because it was one of my first. Molly and I went around [the museum] and found this big Chinese portrait of a hundred children playing, the common medium being nature. We connect to it, the children, through their laughter and our shared memories of playing, of hanging on the thin limbs of trees. I think this specific entry helped open my mind for this program and, while it’s not unique or special or well-written, the idea of the art and our interpretation of it is something that everyone carries when they are lonely.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Mackenzie

“These are my rough sketches and brainstorming. We had to create an art piece based on different themes such as diaspora, culture, power, and so on.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Janet

“I wanted to share this reflection because it shows how much I’ve grown since the beginning of the program. I was afraid and nervous about what I could bring to the group, but things have gone better than I could ever wish for.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Inayah

“I started getting really into pen art and lines and volume.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Touger

“I drew this on February 7, 2020. The reason why I picked this drawing is because the cherry blossoms are my favorite tree, although I have never seen one. Cherry blossom trees are meaningful to me because they means passion, peace, beauty.”

 

Journal Entry and Reflection by Sachan

“I chose this page because I felt like it was more interesting to look at than just answers to questions or unrelated sketches, and I thought that it showed what we’ve been doing in the program. For me, that means understanding the story I want to tell and finding a way to portray that through art. This page shows both what I was trying to show in the collage and how I was going to try to send that message.”